Program

“I really and truly believe that the analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills that I developed in my history classes have served me very well in my non-profit marketing career.” –Colleen M. Fox (Mallon), Class of 2008

Program Overview

The Department of History offers a variety of courses that enable students to fulfill the core requirements of their schools as well as to obtain a Bachelor of Arts with either a major or a minor in History. The goals of the department curriculum are to engender an informed, critical, and articulate sense of the past, an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, and an awareness of the role of tradition in shaping the present. The major develops a variety of practical research and communication skills and provides a foundation for graduate work, the study of law, teaching, archival and library sciences, and many careers in business and the professions. The department sponsors a chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international History honor society.

Core Requirements

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences should complete their core requirement in History by taking HIST 101 and either HIST 102 or HIST 112 in their first year. HIST 201 or 202 may be substituted for one 100-level course after the student has completed the freshman year.

History Major Requirements

Majors are required to complete HIST 301 (Historical Methods), which is normally taken as the student begins the upper division courses. Majors are also required to take HIST 401 (Senior Seminar). In exceptional cases students with a honors level grade point average and with approval of the department may elect to take HIST 499 (Senior Thesis) in lieu of HIST 401. Upper division electives must include one course from four topic areas. See the Undergraduate Catalogue for specific requirements. Majors who wish to obtain teacher certification are urged to confer with the School of Education as well as their departmental adviser.